🇨🇷 Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
La Colina
📍 Km 3 Calle Principal, Quepos
Photo: official website
Your stay — La Colina
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Manuel Antonio.
The Property — La Colina
La Colina sits on a hillside just outside the main bustle of Manuel Antonio, offering a deliberately low-key, no-fuss stay for travellers who want a clean, comfortable base rather than resort-style pampering. The lobby is open-air and modest, with concrete floors, a rack of leaflets for local tours, and a clear view of the jungle-covered slopes opposite; the sound of howler monkeys filters through more often than any piped music. It works best for budget-conscious families or couples who plan to spend their days on the beach or in the park and just need a decent night's sleep and a simple breakfast. The USP is straightforward value: a solid three-star experience in a spot where many places charge far more for far less.
Chronicles of Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio was essentially a string of small fishing settlements until the 1970s, when the Costa Rican government created the national park — now the country's most visited — and a paved road followed from Quepos. The town itself has no old colonial core; instead, it grew organically as a ribbon of hotels, soda restaurants and tour kiosks along the coastal highway, driven entirely by tourism. Architecturally, it's a mix of functional concrete blocks, corrugated roofs and the occasional bamboo-and-thatch lodge, with nothing preserved from earlier eras. Today it's a cheerful, sun-bleached backpacker-and-family destination where the main cultural identity is centred on nature: surfing, wildlife-watching and the laid-back ‘pura vida’ rhythm.
Best Time to Visit
Full Manuel Antonio guide →Best months
January and February: consistently dry, less saturated trade winds, and the forest is still lush from the previous rainy season. Crowds are moderate because Christmas and New Year have just passed.
Peak / festival surge
July (and late December to mid-January) are the busiest periods. July is within the green season — lighter rain, more tourists — as North American summer holidays fill the park. Hotel prices can jump 30–50% above low-season rates. Local events such as the Fiesta de los Diablitos (in surrounding areas) don't affect Manuel Antonio directly; the drive is purely school holidays.
Budget shoulder season
May and November offer the best balance: rain is still frequent but usually comes in short afternoon bursts, the jungle is at its greenest, crowds are sparse, and room rates drop by 30–40% from peak levels.
Weather & packing
Manuel Antonio's climate has no true dry season; even in high summer you can expect sudden tropical downpours that last an hour then vanish. Pack a lightweight rain jacket and waterproof walking sandals as a mandatory rule — not just an umbrella, and not regular trainers.
Live City Briefing — Manuel Antonio
- The main road into Manuel Antonio has ongoing resurfacing works between Quepos and the park entrance, causing sporadic 15–20 minute delays; allow extra travel time from Quepos airport.
- A new set of regulations for Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio, effective from early 2026, limits daily visitor numbers to 1,200 and requires advance online booking — do not expect to buy a ticket on arrival.
- Hotel La Colina itself completed a small renovation of its swimming pool deck and added a communal kitchen for guest use in February 2026.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to La Colina, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Rooms on the third or fourth floor, facing away from the main road (south/east side), likely offering partial ocean or forest views and less street noise.
Rooms to avoid
Ground-floor rooms near the entrance or facing Calle Principal, as they get exhaust fumes, engine noise, and foot traffic from the road and carpark.
Best views
From higher south-facing rooms, you can see over the treeline towards the Pacific coast or lush hillside; north-facing rooms look onto the road and Quepos town.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4, set back from the street and above the lobby noise level.
🔊 Noise notes
Calle Principal is the main access road for Manuel Antonio – buses, motorbikes, and delivery trucks pass from early morning until night. The hotel's own generator or pool pump may hum from the rear courtyard.
Insider tips
1. Park at the top of the hill (if available) to avoid backing out onto the bend; the hotel has limited level spaces. 2. Check in by early afternoon – the lobby gets congested with tour groups from 4pm.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — La Colina
Free Wi-Fi throughout; average speed 15 Mbps down/5 Mbps up; no login required, just select network
No lift—two-storey building with stairs only
No physical newspapers; free access to PressReader via lobby tablet
Check-in 15:00–22:00; early bag drop available from 10:00; late check-out until 13:00 costs $30 (subject to availability)
Free storage for same-day arrivals/departures; no charge
No step-free access—4 steps at main entrance and stairs to all rooms; no wheelchair-accessible rooms
On-site parking free for guests (12 spaces, first-come-first-served); nearest public car park is at Quepos Marina (1 km away, $10 per day); no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 13% VAT (IVA) included in rate; tourist tax of $1.50 per person per night payable at check-in
Deposit & card hold: 50% advance deposit required for reservations made more than 7 days out; a $100 incidental hold on credit card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Iglesia Manuel Antonio (734 m · ~9 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Plaza Quepos — 2.5 km · ~31 min walk
Parque Zona Americana — 1.9 km · ~23 min walk
Teatro Copaza — 2.4 km · ~30 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 1.4 km · ~17 min walk
Supermarket — 739 m · ~9 min walk
Terminal San Rafael de Cerros — 2.5 km · ~32 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Costa Rican Colón, CRC
ATMs in Quepos give decent rates; avoid currency exchange at airport or tourist bureaux — they take a big cut.
Visa and Mastercard widely accepted in hotels and restaurants; Amex less so. Small cafes and street stalls are cash-only.
Restaurants usually add 10% service — check bill before adding extra. Taxis round up to nearest 500 colones. Hotel maids 1000-2000 CRC/night.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Café chorreado at a local soda — around 800 CRC.
Casado (rice, beans, meat, salad) at a soda — about 4000 CRC.
Pollo frito or arroz con pollo main — around 3500-4500 CRC.
Look for small sodas and food carts along Calle Principal and near the bus station in Quepos; also pop-up stalls near the park.
AutoMercado is the main full-service supermarket in the area; Más x Menos is another common chain.
No high-street chains in Km 3; local markets in Quepos sell basics and souvenir T-shirts. For anything else, head to San José.
Local bus between Quepos and Manuel Antonio costs 295 CRC. From SJO airport, take a shared shuttle (about $50 USD) or bus via San José (very long but ~$5).
Eat at sodas (small family-run eateries) for cheap casados. Buy water and snacks at a supermarket, not hotel mini-bars. Bargain gently at souvenir stalls but not at sodas or taxis.
Emergency Contacts
Manuel AntonioAll emergencies, including police, ambulance, and fire, use 911. For non-urgent tourist police, call +506 2582-0845 (Quepos station). Medical clinic: Clínica de Quepos, +506 2777-0262.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Manuel Antonio, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at La Colina
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 1.4 km · ~17 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Manuel Antonio entrance (near Las Tres Banderas) → Quepos bus station
💡 Flag it from the main road just outside the hotel—no official stop, drivers pull over on a wave. Ideal for getting to Quepos for groceries or nightlife.
Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) → Las Tres Banderas, Manuel Antonio
💡 Book through your hotel for a fixed rate—avoid touts offering cheaper deals that add tolls or wait fees. Drivers expect cash in USD or colones.
Quepos bus station → Las Tres Banderas, Manuel Antonio road
💡 Wave down red taxis at the Quepos roundabout—they run a fixed route up the hill. Pay in colones for exact change; drivers often round up the fare.
San José (Terminal Atlántico Norte, Calle 12) → Manuel Antonio bus stop (near Las Tres Banderas)
💡 Take the 6:00 AM bus to avoid afternoon heat and crowds. The bus drops you a 10-minute walk from the hotel; turn left at the soccer field.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at La Colina?
Rooms on the third or fourth floor, facing away from the main road (south/east side), likely offering partial ocean or forest views and less street noise.
Which rooms should I avoid at La Colina?
Ground-floor rooms near the entrance or facing Calle Principal, as they get exhaust fumes, engine noise, and foot traffic from the road and carpark.
Is La Colina noisy?
Calle Principal is the main access road for Manuel Antonio – buses, motorbikes, and delivery trucks pass from early morning until night. The hotel's own generator or pool pump may hum from the rear courtyard.
Which rooms have the best views at La Colina?
From higher south-facing rooms, you can see over the treeline towards the Pacific coast or lush hillside; north-facing rooms look onto the road and Quepos town.
What are insider tips for staying at La Colina?
1. Park at the top of the hill (if available) to avoid backing out onto the bend; the hotel has limited level spaces. 2. Check in by early afternoon – the lobby gets congested with tour groups from 4pm.
What time is check-in at La Colina?
Check-in at La Colina is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does La Colina have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi throughout; average speed 15 Mbps down/5 Mbps up; no login required, just select network
Is there a city or tourist tax at La Colina?
13% VAT (IVA) included in rate; tourist tax of $1.50 per person per night payable at check-in
Where can I eat cheaply near La Colina?
Casado (rice, beans, meat, salad) at a soda — about 4000 CRC.
What is the cheapest way to get around from La Colina?
Local bus between Quepos and Manuel Antonio costs 295 CRC. From SJO airport, take a shared shuttle (about $50 USD) or bus via San José (very long but ~$5).
When is the best time to visit Manuel Antonio?
January and February: consistently dry, less saturated trade winds, and the forest is still lush from the previous rainy season. Crowds are moderate because Christmas and New Year have just passed.
Top Attractions in Manuel Antonio
💡 Bring your own snacks and water. Sellers on the sand charge double. The far south end is quieter. Watch for rip currents after rain.
💡 Go at low tide if you want to walk further out on the rocks. Sunset is busy but worth it. Wear decent shoes—it gets slippery.
💡 The path is hidden behind Hotel Mono Loco. No facilities, so bring a towel and water. Early morning is best for peace.
💡 Walk it on a Saturday morning—the fish market is buzzing. Skip the overpriced restaurants facing the water; eat a block inland.
💡 Go at opening time (7am) on a weekday. You'll beat the crowds and see more animals before the heat sets in. Take cash for the small entry fee; the card machine sometimes fails.